Sites like Wikipedia appeal to a broad audience, because unlike most of the websites on the net, they allow their users to determine and contribute to the site’s content. At least, that’s what they would have you believe.

A recent study has shown that the content on Wikipedia and Digg isn’t decided by the web surfing masses, but by a select minority of users. This, of course, goes against the very premise of these sites by taking power out of the hands of real users. Are social media sites a failed democracy?

To answer that question, we’ll welcome Editorial Assistant for Slate, Chris Wilson and Deputy Editor of Special Projects at Forbes, David Ewalt.